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Hello Larry Mapleton 8th Birthday Party Attendees,
Been a long week hasn’t it. I hope you’re watching good shows. I just finished up The White Lotus and it is a dandy. Highly recommend. Sorry if I already mentioned it once in here. I can’t remember and don’t feel like combing through old editions to see. But it’s dark and funny and does a great job at poking fun at all the different kinds of people. If you want to chat about it holler at me.
Another week another few new tragedies in the world to go along with the one that has been going on for the past year and a half. Do whatever you can to not let the onslaught of despair impact your life too much. But make sure you still care about it and pay attention to it and educate yourself on these things when they come up in the news and help whenever possible.
Y’all know this is not meant to be a political or a serious newsletter. You are already getting plenty of realness from your every day news sources and social media feeds. So I’m not going to get into Covid or Afghanistan or Haiti here. I will provide y’all with a few articles from sources that I trust on how to help though. This guide from Quartz on how to help in Afghanistan shouts out a lot of small independent groups that can make a real impact for individuals and real people (as opposed huge intergovernmental agencies that do good work but are slow and much more removed). And then this guide from The Cut pulls together quite a few resources that can be useful for helping Haiti.
I love you all. Stay safe out there. Wear your masks. Get your vaccine. Frolic in the fields. Swim with the fish. Not in the mafia sense. In the jovial sense. Eat delicious food and sip wine from a straw if you want to.
Ok time for the usual linkies. Enjoy.
Many Of The Clothes We Donate To Charity End Up Dumped In A Landfill
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
This piece focuses on Ghana, the donated textile capital of Africa, where those in Accra, the capital, are overrun with clothes. There are too many of them and they have landfills of almost nothing but unusable textiles. It’s scary.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
The trade in second-hand clothing has steadily grown in Accra, just as it has around the world. Every year as many as 4 million tonnes of used textiles are shipped across the planet in a trade estimated to be worth $4.6 billion.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
Yet more, very striking evidence that maybe you don't need to buy that new shirt. The amount of textile waste in the world is terrifying. I'm not saying never buy new clothes because that's not realistic and would also be hypocritical of me. I'm just saying think a little bit harder before you buy that new article of clothing. Unless it has sick graphics on it, of course, then buy away!
Are Your Houseplants Actually Good For The Planet?
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
An analysis of the booming house plant industry and the impact it has on various aspects of the world. I found this to be a great piece because it just lays out information and doesn't seem to have much of an agenda. “This is how news should be!” - both sides cry out as they gaslight each other and water their plants.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
As with any social media trend, the rise in plant ownership sparked a newfound demand for the industry as a whole: The sector grew by 50 percent ($1.7 billion) between 2016 and 2019, per the National Gardening Association’s annual survey, but that growth has accelerated over the course of the pandemic. According to Greenhouse Management magazine’s 2020 State of the Industry report, 71 percent of North American greenhouses saw an increase in plant sales in 2020, and 67 percent felt confident this trend would continue throughout this year. The 2019 National Gardening Survey also found that 18- to 34-year-olds have been a dominant source of sales in recent years.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
Damn we really can’t ever just have nice things can we?! Plants still aren’t all that bad, but there are definitely some issues with the b(l)ooming plant industry. Should you still become a plant mom? Of course, put them thangs all over. Just maybe buy from local shops if possible I suppose. Also interesting how hot plant varietals are really just obscure plants that the major companies decide to start growing en masse and make popular. Bring back the ficus!
IKEA Starts Selling Renewable Energy To Households In Sweden
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
IKEA who I'm sure you all have heard of thanks to their easy to assemble/impossible to disassemble furniture is getting into other adjacent business areas. Like providing electricity of the renewable variety. Gotta light all those sconces somehow!
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores worldwide, said households would be able to buy affordable renewable electricity from solar and wind parks, and track their usage through an app.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
This is a super interesting business expansion from the Scandinavian furniture titans. Seems like a wonderful opportunity for them to sell more stuff and also continues towards the trend of major companies (tech, usually) providing services that local governments should be doing. This trend will maybe even do some good for the world. Or could completely privatize it and ruin the world. We'll see!
Weird Internet Resource Of The Week
Ever wished there was a website that catalogued every fake show and movie that was in a real show or movie? Sure you did. Well Nestflix has created a database to pull all of that together so you can now you can check out The Rural Juror from 30 Rock or Euphegenia’s House from Mrs. Doubtfire. No video unfortunately but it is a cool time capsule to weed through. Check it out.
Other Interesting Things You May Or May Not Care About
When A Captive Shark Vomited Up A Human Arm—And Sparked A Murder Investigation
Well I'll be damned if it isn't the classic case of a captive animal puking up human remains. This really sounds like it all could be a sequel to Ace Ventura.The Dresden Job
We got more crime capers for you here! This one is a great long read from GQ that is sure to become a movie at some point. Criminal organizations in Germany’s underbelly perform increasingly brazen art museum heists.Are “Buy Now, Pay Later” Retail Loans A Rip-off?
If you’ve ever wondered how those type of companies make money and function this is a good read. Also a lot of good info on how the industry is being regulated so that millennials and Gen Zers don’t go too ham buying skinny jeans and wide pants, respectively.Everything You Can Possibly Do to Help Your Hangover
I am getting older and getting more hungover (always from life, sometimes from alcohol). This article was useful and provided a few new tricks, but points out there is really no true salve other than time. Honestly we just need a pill that makes you not hungover anymore. Why is that not a thing?Meet The Dommes Who Are Demanding Their Submissives Get Vaxxed
Truly a headline for the ages. I can’t really say anything better than that. So I’ll just leave it as is.
Brands I Quite Like
There are so many brands out there that are not cool or unique that I thought I would highlight new brands that I think are in fact doing dope things and are worth knowing about. This is not sponsored or full of affiliate links.
Vacation - The World’s Best Smelling Sunscreen
Vacation is the product arm of internet darlings Poolside FM who you may have heard of. Through their extremely good vibes they gained a lot of popularity for good music and vintage 80s feel. Then they launched sunscreen and other skin accoutrements and are just an all around summer wonder. Now they have sunscreens, lotions, tanning oils and some mist-like substance. Most importantly I like them because they know how to have fun as a brand and don’t really do what other brands are doing in terms of thinking how to sell more stuff. Unique in a lot of ways. Check em out.
Let’s Just Looks At Art Because Reading Sucks
Meet Belize's Secluded Mennonites, A Community Frozen In Time
The Bumpy Typeface Project Challenges Us To Rethink Our Assumptions About Gender Through Type Design
Lists Are What The Internet Was Made For!
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“Allllllllll Righty Then!” - Ace Ventura after he finishes reading The Breads
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